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Ukraine protests renewed Paralympics participation by Russia, Belarus

Europe   The decision allowing Russia and Belarus to rejoin competition drew outrage in Ukraine and Europe following the disqualification last week of a Ukrainian skeleton athlete. Valerii Sushkevych, president of the Ukraine National Paralympic Committee, with Ukrainian athletes during the Winter Paralympic Games in 2022. (Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images) By David L. Stern and Serhiy Morgunov, The Washington Post published on 2/21/26 9:48 AM  KYIV — Ukrainian athletes will boycott the Opening Ceremonies of the Paralympic Games next month to protest a decision allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags and national anthems . The controversy follows a standoff last week between Ukrainian officials and the International Olympic Committee. Vladyslav Heraskevych, a Ukrainian skeleton athlete, was barred from competing hours before his event at the Winter Games in Italy for refusing to remove a helmet honoring compatriots killed during Russia’s ...
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Ukrainian Women Tell Their Stories of Sexual Violence by Russian Soldiers

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Darya with her mother near Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in June. Darya said a drunken Russian soldier had forced his hands into her underwear and shouted  “I want a young body!” Photographs by Lynsey Addario Written by Sara Cincurova The New York Times , Feb. 20, 2026; article contains additional photographs of victims of the violence and what they say about it. Hundreds of Ukrainian women and girls have reported sexual violence by Russian troops during the nearly four years of full-scale war in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian authorities and aid groups. The actual number of victims, advocates say, is most likely far higher. Some of the women say they have been impregnated by Russian soldiers and live with children who will forever remind them of their attackers. Others have told of being forced to serve as sex slaves for entire companies of Russian troops. Still others say their life became a waking nightmare after they were incapacitated and raped by Russian forces. The New York...
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"Just marry me"

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In a 2009 email,  Mr. Epstein suggested that he paid for flights  for “the Duchess and the girls from Heathrow to Miami,” an apparent reference to travel for Ms. Ferguson and her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. In 2010, in another email exchange, Ms. Ferguson called Mr. Epstein “ a legend ,” adding, “I really don’t have the words to describe my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. Xx I am at your service. Just marry me.” From: The New York Times *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Ferguson Sarah Ferguson Ferguson in 2017 Born Sarah Margaret Ferguson 15 October 1959  (age 66) London , England Education Hurst Lodge School Queen's Secretarial College Occupations Author spokesperson television personality Spouse Prince Andrew, Duke of York ​ ​ ( m.   1986 ;  div.   1996 ) ​ Children Princess Beatrice Princess Eugenie Parents Ronald Ferguson  (father) Susan Wright  (mother) Signature
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[Roger McShane, US digital editor, from The Economist re Ukraine/Russia]

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[Feb 18] "Elsewhere, negotiators for Russia and Ukraine made scant progress in peace talks today. Might money move matters along? Russia has reportedly dangled $12trn in deals for America in exchange for sanctions relief— a figure that looks more like bait for Donald Trump than a serious estimate.  ... " From The Economist
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Ilya -- The "suggested response" to my friend [Pls. entre nous]

On Feb 18, 2026, at 5:09 PM, john brown < jb42frabel@gmail.com > wrote:  https://secure. brownstoneresearch.com/?cid= MKT860898&eid=MKT861998&tid= 4fd42757aefd4ac289ac100f837814 3d&oid=42&affid=14&uid=0&aff_ click_id=&assetId=AST388143& page=1 The not-requested "suggested response" :  W [...] -- Understood. Thanks for the quick read and clear advice. Best, john
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Europe Fills U.S. Aid Loss to Ukraine

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As U.S. aid falls 99%, the Continent steps up to provide weapons.  By The Editorial Board, The Wall Street Journal , Feb. 17, 2026 5:54 pm ET; see also Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announcing that Sweden and Denmark are joining forces to buy air defence for Ukraine, in Gothenburg, Sweden on Feb. 3 .   BJORN LARSSON ROSVALL/TT/TT NEWS AGENCY/REUTERS As the Trump Administration has stopped providing weapons to Ukraine, how is Kyiv surviving against Russia? One answer is its own ingenuity in building drones and missiles. But Western Europe has also stepped up, as a new report from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy documents. The German think tank found that American aid for Ukraine plummeted 99% in 2025. Yet in the last year Europe has “sharply” increased its overall support to “offset much of the reduction in US allocations,” Kiel says. European military aid increased 67% in 2025 compared to the average between 2022 and 2024.  The Trump Administr...
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Second Day of Talks on Russia-Ukraine War Ends After Only 2 Hours

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The discussions in Geneva were expected to focus on territorial issues, a major sticking point, but the short duration suggests major progress was not made.  Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, in Geneva on Tuesday. Credit... Harold Cunningham/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By  Constant Méheut Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine The New York Times , Feb. 18, 2026 Updated  10:39 a.m. ET; see also and also ; as well as Ukrainian and Russian officials wrapped up a new round of U.S.-mediated peace talks on Wednesday after a second day of discussions that lasted just two hours, a brief session that suggested little progress and underscored that a deal to end the war remains elusive. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who was not present at the talks, told reporters on social media that “the negotiations were not easy.” He noted that while the two sides had essentially reached an agreement on technical issues, such as how to monitor a cease-fire, they remained far...
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